UNHCR Confirms Return of Two Million Syrians and Calls for Support to Returnees

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, announced the return of over two million Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons to their areas since last December, describing this step as a "ray of hope" despite ongoing regional escalation.

Grandi wrote on the "Ex" platform: "The return of over two million Syrian refugees and IDPs since last December represents a positive development amid escalating tensions in the region," emphasizing the need for "real political solutions, not a new wave of instability and displacement."

UNHCR expected the return of around 1.5 million Syrian refugees during the current year 2025, including approximately 200,000 from Jordan, calling for urgent investments inside Syria to support returnees and host communities, ensuring a safe and sustainable return.

Grandi previously emphasized that returnees need urgent support in housing, basic services, and education to fully rebuild their lives.

In a related context, Joyce Msuya, Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs at the United Nations, mentioned during her briefing to the Security Council that "reduced conflict intensity and increased international engagement provide new opportunities for investing in Syria's future," warning that 75% of the population still urgently needs humanitarian aid.

Msuya revealed that over seven million people are still internally displaced in Syria, while 1.1 million internally displaced persons and half a million refugees returned during the past six months, stressing that many of them rely on aid to secure their basic needs.